The Line That Connects You to Me

June 5 – August 28, 2008

JOHANNA BYSTRUM SIMS, Lost in Europe

The Line That Connects You to Me curated by Dana Gentile 

Thursday, June 5th, 6-8 pm 
Opening Reception

Thursday, August 7, 6-8 pm. 
DUMBO 1st THURSDAY SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: "Mending" by Annette Tacconelli More Info 

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

The Line That Connects You To Me asks audiences to go beyond the passive observation too often found in the gallery setting by presenting a physical line connecting one work to another that acts as a dialog between the artist and the viewer, encouraging active participation and engagement. As the viewer moves from piece to piece around the gallery in the guided direction, connections may not be immediately apparent. However, as the viewer approaches the exhibit's end, it is the curator's hope that he or she will become inspired to move through the rest of their day attempting to uncover the connections between everything that crosses their path.

Saturation in the art market has caused gallery audiences to gravitate mostly to artwork they already know they like, walking quickly through a gallery show, in order to hone in on the work that draws them in immediately. Fast paced movements around a gallery and a desire to look only at what stands out from the rest limits audiences opportunities to experience connections between different artwork in the show. Viewers therefore often rely on curator-provided wall text to make the connections for them. The Line That Connects You To Me aims to reverse this trend. Rather than encouraging browsing through artwork as though one was window shopping, The Line That Connects You To Me presents questions, answers, and comments. The actual line on the gallery wall will act as a guide around the space, literally connecting work together and explicating the curatorial vision of the show. Following the line on the wall that connects you to the work of participating artists Heejung ChoStephanie DiGregorioGregg EvansJ.D. GaulSara JonesDane PattersonTiana PetersonMegan PrinceJohanna Bystrum SimsAnnette Tacconelli, and Katie White is one way to experience the show. Another way is to discover different connections between the individual artists that break away from the line, creating invisible 'lines' throughout the space.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Johanna Bystrum Sims-imaginary societies where familiar cityscapes become thrown into unexpected circumstances compel viewers to envision a new strategy for tackling unfamiliar territory. While Gregg Evans represents familiar objects and places in photographic portraits, leaving out the people usually present in portraiture. Dane Patterson and Tiana Peterson both modify pre-existing objects to communicate a new message and meaning. Patterson uses found photographs to form new conversations and situations for those who've existed before us. Peterson removes architecture from pop-up books exposing the process behind making the book and starting a dialogue on consumerism. Annette Tacconelli's interactive sculpture invites audiences to embroider with her. Tacconelli will visit the gallery throughout the exhibition to work on the piece and to collaborate with the audience as participants.Katie White's photographic triptych, three enlarged Polaroids, examines the theatrical experience of waiting for red velvet seats to fill and the curtain to rise, challenging our ideas of a viewing experience.

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Dana Gentile is an emerging Brooklyn-based artist and independent curator. She graduated with a BFA from SUNY Purchase College in 2003. She is currently the Assistant Director of the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) in New York. Some of her recent curatorial pursuits have included Far From Home at the Brooklyn Artists Gym, No Diving at New Century Artists Gallery in New York, and The Travel Room at Area 5 Gallery in Missoula, Montana. Her work has been exhibited in New York at the Museum at FIT, Slideluck Potshow, and Pocket Utopia. She was interviewed in the Italian Publication PIG (People In The Groove) Magazine in October 2006. In addition, her work is included in a curated limited edition book titled Ruby Mag that was published in Argentina.

BAC Gallery
111 Front Street, Suite 218, 
Brooklyn 

Download the Line That Connects You to Me Press Release Download the Line That Connects You to Me Press Release Line_That_Connects_You_To_Me_Release-5.pdf